August 4, 2024: 1 John 2:3-6, 2:15-17, 4:19-21
"We Wait With Love"
Main Point: Experiencing God's love radically changes how we love.
Main Point: Experiencing God's love radically changes how we love.
1. Loving God Means We'll Keep His Commands (1 John 2:3-6)
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
2. Loving God Means We Won't Love the World (1 John 2:15-17)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
3. Loving God Means We'll Love Others (1 John 4:19-21)
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
2. Loving God Means We Won't Love the World (1 John 2:15-17)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
3. Loving God Means We'll Love Others (1 John 4:19-21)
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Questions for Small Group Discussion:
1. CAN WE TRULY CLAIM TO KNOW GOD WITHOUT OBEYING HIM? HOW DO VERSES 3-4 CHALLENGE YOU?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK AS JESUS WALKED (V. 6)?
2. GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT JOHN MIGHT HAVE MEANT BY “THINGS IN THE WORLD” (V. 15).
WHY CAN’T WE LOVE GOD AND THE “WORLD” AT THE SAME TIME?
3.WHY SHOULD LOVING GOD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO HATE OTHERS?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK AS JESUS WALKED (V. 6)?
2. GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT JOHN MIGHT HAVE MEANT BY “THINGS IN THE WORLD” (V. 15).
WHY CAN’T WE LOVE GOD AND THE “WORLD” AT THE SAME TIME?
3.WHY SHOULD LOVING GOD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO HATE OTHERS?
